Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to recall Olivier Giroud to his starting line-up to face Sunderland, but Mesut Ozil will play no part, having been omitted from the squad according to the Guardian.
The German playmaker missed an early penalty in the first leg of the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Bayern Munich, and it appeared to affect his performance mentally.
With that in mind, a spell out of the limelight, and a much needed rest could be of great benefit.
Giroud was left out of the starting line-up for Arsenal’s last two games against Liverpool and Bayern, despite the matches being two of the club’s biggest and most crucial tests of the season.
Most UK newspapers attributed that to the Frenchman sneaking a woman into his hotel room prior to the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on February 2nd, in which he got an assist, but Arsene Wenger insists it was a decision purely based on football.
Yaya Sanogo played in his stead against both Merseyside and Bavarian giants, but looked exhausted against Bayern Munich, and that may in part explain Giroud’s recall to the first team.
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